During ICAO's recent green innovation webinar, Otto Aviation laid out plans to build a zero emissions version of its Celera 500L, with an entry into service date of 2027.

Otto recently announced the Celera 500L, a flight-tested full-scale prototype aircraft that is claimed to be highly efficient. Otto's clean sheet design achieved a breakthrough in drag reduction by maximising laminar flow across the airframe and control surfaces. The current version of the Celera 500L is powered by the Raikhlin Engine Development A03 turbo diesel engine that can operate on either Jet-A or sustainable aviation fuel. Flight test results show the Celera 500L has already delivered emission reductions of 80 per cent less than comparable aircraft.

Laminar flow technology and selection of clean-sheet configuration choices allows Otto to achieve practical ranges with zero emissions propulsion earlier than competing designs. The company is designing the initial production version of the aircraft to accommodate zero-emission propulsion systems that can be retrofitted into delivered aircraft.

“We're excited that the initial designs are delivering on the comfort and ranges desired by potential customers,” says Otto Aviation CTO David Bogue. “The volumetric capacity of the fuselage and specific configuration choices allows our design to adopt either hydrogen or battery electric propulsion. We're eager to build upon the initial version of the 500L and deliver a zero emissions version of the aircraft.”